If I want to automate something to occur when the temperature changes a certain direction or when daylight runs out- do I need to have a weather app or driver installed on the hub for it to work?
Ideally you would use a device installed locally. An external multi sensor (or suitably weatherproofed standard one) would allow you to set up automations based on illuminance. I have rules using illuminance to open/close curtains, turn on/off external lighting. You can of course set up automations that trigger based on the sunrise/sunset time of your location (applying any plus/minus offset you like)
Other users on here have weather stations that can provide wind speed, direction, temperature, pressure, rainfall information and can use those values to trigger rules. It might be possible to get values from a weather site with an available api and use those for automations. Bear in mind however that using a weather api is reliant on your internet connection (not local) and wouldn't be as accurate for your precise location.
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I use the open weather device for weather. I use a hue outdoor motion sensor (paired direct to hub) to get outside illuminance numbers that I use in other automations. It's been working great. I use it to automate my porch light with the motion and it only turns on when dark and I use that illuminance reading to turn off my office light in the morning once it's bright enough. Much better than sunrise+offset because there's a difference between cloudy/foggy days and clear.
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That's why I fitted my external sensors. I've use Fibaro Motion Sensors (in a weatherproof enclosure). Sometimes on cloudy days I wanted the garden lights to come on earlier. Even on a clear day with rise/set offset there were variances according to time of year. The only issue I have is that one of my garden lights temporarily pushes the lux level above the threshold for the light turning off and I need to mask the bottom of the sensor to avoid that.
I use a series of Hue outdoor motion sensors around the house to control flood lights. They also report lux and temperature, and I use these for various automations, including lighting control on cloudy days.
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I base all my WebCore pistons on an Aeotec Multi sensor with Lux for all light related decisions.
I suppliment with Blink outdoor temp and Sunrise/Sunset from HE.
I have Weather installed in WebCore but mostly for interest as my area is not accurate at all.
I use OpenWeatherMap for outdoor temperature display on a dashboard and a Xiaomi Mijia Smart Light Sensor stuck in a skylight well. I don't have any automations based on temperature, but it seems pretty accurate for my location (Detroit). Almost all my lighting is based on the light sensor, though.
Once you start using illuminance instead of sunrise/sunset, you'll never go back.
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I have a weather station (Ambient Weather / Ecowitt). and use the luminance readings to initiate opening and closing my blinds. It is all local and reliable.
I still use sunrise/sunset with offsets to control my architectural lighting. That work too.
The key takeaway is to use what you have until is doesn’t fit your need, or you just want to play with something new. 
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I am in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.
In my location Open Weather is good only for Wind and Wind Gust values.
All other parameters are more or less accurate but changing extremely slow.
All my balcony doors and winwows are facing West but for the illuminance I
ended up with 3 light sensors (one for each door and window).
Only this way I was able to automate my blinds and curtains and get very
high WAF.
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